The Skinner-for-Jarry Trade Has Oilers Fans Split — For Good Reason

It’s far too early to really judge the Edmonton Oilers decision to trade for Tristan Jarry, but the early reaction to an article we recently wrote shows how fragile things are right now in Edmonton. Following his arrival and almost immediate injury, Oilers Nation is skeptical, impatient, and fully aware that the margin for error is razor-thin.

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Out went Stuart Skinner and in came Jarry. Skinner got off to a rough start with the Pittsburgh Penguins, but has since gone on a roll. That makes the early grading of this trade even more skewed against the deal being a good one for Edmonton, but there’s plenty of time for the narrative to flop back and forth.

The Oilers believed they needed a steadier presence in goal — someone who could calm things down when games get chaotic. In the brief window before Jarry got hurt, that’s exactly what he looked like. But for many fans, the injury erased whatever goodwill that early performance had built.

And that’s where the pushback really begins.

“We Still Don’t Know What Jarry Is”

One of the most common criticisms in the comments is fair: the sample size is tiny. Jarry played three games, the Oilers played well in front of him, and then he landed on injured reserve.

Fans are right to question whether Jarry can hold up and stay healthy. And, if he can, it’s also fair to wonder how he’ll do when Edmonton plays poorly in front of him. That’s the real test, and it’s bound to happen. Skinner often took the blame for breakdowns that weren’t always on him, and until Jarry faces the same chaos, determining who is a better fit feels unreasonable.

At the same time, dismissing what Jarry showed isn’t giving him what should be fair credit. The Oilers weren’t looking for perfection. They were looking for composure. In those three games, Jarry gave them that. That matters, even if it doesn’t answer every question.

Injury Frustration Is Driving the Anger

Let’s be honest — if Jarry doesn’t get hurt, the tone of this conversation is very different.

Several comments boil down to one sentiment: “What did we actually get?” From that perspective, it looks like Edmonton traded a local goalie for someone who’s now on LTIR. Optics matter, and right now, they aren’t great. The good news is that Jarry is set to return this week, likely in one of the two games the Oilers play on Monday or Tuesday night.

When he returns and stays healthy, the team will have a better idea of where they sit with their goaltending overall. That’s important as the Oilers have a big decision to make, and keeping three netminders is likely not in the cards.

One comment hit on the real anxiety Oilers fans are wrestling with: Is a Tristan Jarry/Connor Ingram/Calvin Pickard situation good enough to get through the West?

That’s the uncomfortable question. If it isn’t, then what? Do they call on the red-hot Connor Ungar? Do they make another move? The Oilers know their window isn’t open forever. If this really is one of their last prime shots with this core, rolling into the playoffs without absolute certainty in net is terrifying.

The deadline still looms, and if Jarry’s health doesn’t stabilize, the Oilers will have to revisit the position. That doesn’t make the trade pointless. It makes it one step in a larger process.

The Skinner vs. Jarry Debate Isn’t Going Away

Some fans weren’t sold on the idea that Jarry is an upgrade over Skinner when you compare career numbers or playoff results. That’s a valid debate. Jarry’s playoff résumé is shaky, and Skinner has had moments where he delivered under pressure.

But the underlying issue wasn’t just numbers. It was trust. By the end of Skinner’s run in Edmonton, it was clear the team no longer played confidently in front of him. Whether that was fair or not, it was reality. Once that happens, a change becomes inevitable.

In that sense, the trade was less about “winning” the deal and more about resetting the position.

So Where Does That Leave the Trade?

Right now? Incomplete.

Calling it a failure is premature. Calling it a win is too early. What fans are reacting to isn’t just Jarry — it’s years of goalie anxiety, deadline scars, and the fear that this might be the last run.

Until Jarry is healthy and tested in meaningful games, this debate isn’t going anywhere. And frankly, it shouldn’t.

Next: Walman’s Return Could Be First Domino in an Oilers Shakeup